Career Artúr Lajos Halmi



halmi s painting after examination (1886) brought wide acclaim , secured artistic career.


halmi went study munkacsy , continued painting successful works, including 1 purchased collection of franz joseph of austria. during period, won grand gold medal @ antwerp, millennium medal in budapest , medal honorable mention @ paris salon. on return budapest in 1894, began taking commissions, spending year @ esterházy castle painting portraits of other artists, musicians , men of letters gathered there. tiring of hectic life of court, relocated munich , worked 2 years jugend magazine, until took commission create illustrations golden jubilee memorial volume franz joseph. in span of few months, produced on 300 portraits work. thereafter, became court painter in berlin 8 years, securing reputation throughout europe. 1906-1909 lived , worked in budapest, acclaimed portraitist.


halmi s introduction united states arose acquaintance of days in munich. in late 1880s, before halmi had secured reputation, traveling american cornelius hoagland tangeman came upon of work on display in munich , sought him out private lessons. impressed tangeman s aptitude , in need of money, halmi gave him instruction time before tangeman returned united states enter business. in 1910, halmi still unknown in united states when came visit former pupil , commissioned paint portrait of tangeman s wife. portrait received wide acclaim, leading halmi s popular demand portrait artist among upper class , politically powerful of united states. among subjects there, painted united states president william taft , children of guggenheim family.


in spite of international success, halmi remained humble, particularly aware of artistic limitations imposed upon commissioned portraitist. compared portrait artist john singer sargent, halmi reported in 1914 have deferred:



you can t compare me sargent, 2 reasons - , 1 sufficient: not great artist, , is. secondly, absolutely independent in portrait painting, while reverse. mean is, can t striving please , express beauty. easy patronage have and, in sense, true. @ same time, happens, when paint artificial complexions , paris gowns, , discreetly overlook double chins, , draw figures in imaginary lines, thinking of sitter rather of myself , of art. not easy, assure you. excuse make conscience that, in portraying lady reputed beautiful, not business paint happen see @ moment, rather try express , visualize abiding charm of personality @ best.









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